Dual control separation of gas and oil



Dec. 29, 1953 Filed July 24. 1952 X E l` i s g u A s i" U3 g i n n i f Vi n J. P. WALKER ET Ax. 2,664,170

DUAL CONTROL SEPARATION OF' GAS AND OII..

5 Sheets-Sheet l Jay P. Wr/ker @D WW@ Dec. 29, 1953 J. P. WALKER ET ALDUAL CONTROL SEPARATION OF GAS ANO OIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24,1952 J. P. WALKER ETAL DUAL CONTROL SEPARATION OF GAS AND OIL Dec. 29,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed July 24, 1952 Jay P. Wa//rer C/arence 0.G/asgow` INVENTOI ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1953 DUAL CONTROLSEPARATION OF GAS AND OIL Ja'y P. Walker and Clarence 0. Glasgow, Tulsa,Okla., assignors to National Tank Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporationof Nevada Application July 24, 1952, Serial No. 300,788

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dual controlseparation of gas and cil.

One object of the invention is an improved dual control for oil and gasoutlet valves particularly adapted to tanks having separate accumulatingchambers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual control involvingan oil accumulating chamber receiving oil from a horizontal stratum andhaving liquid level responsive means connected with dual actuating meansfor a gas outlet valve and an oil outlet valve connected with saidchamber, whereby an independent oil level is maintained in said chamberand fluid pressure in the chamber is built up suiicient to elevate thedischarged oil to the stock tanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank having means forestablishing oil and water strata and carrying oil water and an oilaccumulating chamber separate therefrom, together with dual controlledvalve means for discharging oil from the chamber and conducting it tothe stock tanks and building up gas pressure in the chamber suiiicientto elevate the oil to said stock tanks.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual control for atank having an oil accumulating chamber and a gas space therein anddiaphragm-motor oil andV gas outlet valves in combination with a floatin the chamber having operating connection with a pilot valve for'controlling a supply of gas to the valves to open the oil valve andclose or pinch the gas valve and build up a pressure in the chamber forexpelling the oil.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved dualcontrol wherein a tank is provided with an obstruction having a weir atits upper edge whereby a liquid stratum is Amaintained in the tnak andliquid is caused to overiiow to a lower level in an accumulating chamberwhich latter has a gas space above its liquid level, thus oil inoverflowing 'or cascading from the upper stratum to the lower level isdegassed under some conditions.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: y

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view -of a portion of a tank equippedwith a dual control valve means constructed in accordance with theinvention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view through the tank showing thewater discharge means,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the pilot valve and its actuator,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of fan uprightseparator having the dual control valve means,

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4 of a horizontal separator having thedual control valve means,

Fig. 6 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a different application ofthe invention, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional view of the volume tank of the apparatusof Fig. 6.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our 'co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 91,182, iiled May 3, 1949, now abandoned.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designatesa horizontal tank which Imaybe of the construction shown in the co-pending application of Jay P.Walker, Clarence O. Glasgow, and Alex W. Francis, Jr., led March 23,1949, Serial No. 83,054, owned by applicants' assignee, or of some otherform. In the tank a iilter section F is provided between two uprightpartitions II and I2, each occupying a complete transverse area of thetank and being perforated. The filtering ksection is completely iilledwith filtering material M, such as wood excels'ior or suitable material.

A liquid overflow partition I3 terminates short of the top of the tankand its upper horizontal edge constitutes a weir I4, which determinesthe liquid level in the tank. The oil level is determined by the weirand the water level is determined by any suitable Water outlet means,such as an outside syphon box I5 connected with the tank by a water legIG and containing an over-v flow nipple I'I which discharges into awater pipe I8. The longitudinal area above the oil level constitutes agas space G. On top of the tank is a gas separator Svwhich is connectedwith the gas space rearwardly of the partition I2, by means of a pipe I9which may act as a gas equalizer or a gas conductor. A rgas dischargepipe 20 leads from the separator.

The treater operates in any suitable manner so as to produce the water,oil and gas stratum as illustrated and this operation may be as setforth in co-pending application, supra. Since only oil overflows theweir I4, the chamber C, between the ,partition I3 and the end or head'ZI of the tank, contains only oil and gas. An oil level is maintained-in the chamber by a oat 22,-

which is much lower than the oil level, forward of the partition I3. Anoil discharge pipe 23 leads from the lower portion of the head 2l, wellbelow the oil level in chamber C. A diaphragmmotor oil valve 24 of anysuitable construction is connected to the pipe. This valve isperiodically opened to discharge oil from the chamber and maintain thelevel therein. A diaphragmmotor gas outlet valve 25 is connected to thegas discharge pipe 20. These valves are both operated by meanshereinafter described whereby dual control is set up.

Usually a horizontal treater is supported on the ground and since theinlet to the stock tanks is at a higher elevation than the oil outlet ofthe treater some means must be provided to elevate the discharged oiland deliver it to said tanks. An economical method is to employ gaspressure by means of dual control of the oil and gas outlet valves,whereby a pressure in the tank suflicient for this purpose may bemaintained.

The float 22 is mounted on the end of an arm 26 which extends from arigid connection with a rock shaft 21 journaled in a bonnet 28 suitablymounted on the head 2|. The shaft extends through one side of the bonnetand has fastened thereon a lever 29 extending in the opposite directionto the arm 26. An adjusting link 30 pivotally connects the outer end ofthe lever with the plunger 3I of a vertically disposed pilot valve 32. Agas supply line 33 leads from the gas discharge pipe 20 to the upperportion of the valve. A gas feed line 34 leads from the medial portionof the valve to the diaphragm motor of the outlet valve 24. A pressureregulator 35 is connected in the supply line 33. A second gas feed line36 branches from the line 34 and is connected to the diaphragm motor ofthe gas outlet valve 25.

The diaphragm motors of the valves 24 and 25 are of the adjustablespring type which are in common use in this art. When the float 22 is inits normal or middle position, as is shown in the drawings, the oil willbe at a static or normal level. With the float in this position thesprings of the diaphragm-motors are adjusted so that approximately poundpressure per square inch will be carried in the tank, the lines andconnections. So long as this pressure prevails, the oil outlet valvewill remain closed and the gas valve will adjust itself to open, closeor pinch the gas valve 25 so as to maintain said pressure.

It will be noted that the feed line 34 goes to the underside of themotor of the oil outlet valve 24; while the branch line 36 connects tothe top side of the motor of gas valve 25, Thus when sufcient gaspressure is applied, the oil valve will be opened and the gas valve willbe pinched or closed. When the float 22 is in its normal position thepilot valve will be closed or throttled to the point that not more than10 p. s. i. (meaning pounds per square inch) gas pressure will bedelivered to the valves. However, when the liquid level rises in thechamber C, the iioat will be elevated thus opening the pilot to increasethe pressure of the gas supplied to the lines 34 and 36.

If the gas pressure is insuilicient to elevate the oil to the stocktanks, the float rises still higher and the gas pressure is increased sothe gas valve 25 is pinched or closed, whereby the gas pressure in thetank is built up to the point where the oil is discharged to the stocktanks and the float lowered. It is obvious that once the springs of thediaphragm-motors have been adjusted to the desired static pressures, theoperation thereafter becomes automatic. Of course, it is possible toadjust the spring of the gas valve so as to carry more than the pressurenecessary to elevate the oil, because so long as the pilot valve 32remains closed or is throttled, the oil outlet valve will remain closed.

This control is dependent upon an arrangement whereby the oil level iscontrolled entirely by the volume of oil accumulated in the chamber C,which means that said oil level is not subject to fluctuations such aswould occur if the oil was carried on a bod;r of water. The chamber Cserves as a surge chamber and thus the overflow partition and Weir I4become important. The discharge of the oil from the tank is entirelyindependent of the operation of the treater or the volume of waterhandled. Further, the provision of the chamber C assures a substantialstabilization of the oil level in advance of the partition I3.

While we have shown diaphragm-motor valves it is obvious that othertypes may be used. The valves illustrated are arranged so that theoutlet yvalve 24 will reach a full open position when the desiredpressure is built up in the treater. The gas valve 25 has the dualfunction of both holding a predetermined pressure in the treater andbuilding up a pressure suicient to elevate the oil to the stock tanks,It is obvious that while the pipe 9 is primarily for equalizingpressures between the tank and separator, gas may flow through said pipeto the separator and escape by way or" the pipe 25. While the inventionhas been described in connection with a horizontal emulsion treater, itis not to be so limited.

In Fig. 4, we have shown the invention in connection with a verticaltank or oil and gas separator. The details of the separator have beenomitted. A stream of oil and gas and, in some instances, entrainedwater, is admitted through an inlet 40 and a gas discharge pipe 4I leadsfrom the top of the tank 42. A downwardly inclined shield 43 extendsacross the tank and has a depending skirt 44, extending from wall towall and forming with the wall of the tank, a ume 45.

lThe skirt 44 terminates short of the bottom of the tank and is spacedfrom an upright partition 45 extending from said bottom. This partitionhas a Weir 4'! at its upper edge. The space in advance or on thelefthand side of the partition 46 forms a receiving chamber R; while thespace beyond said partition forms an accumulating chamber C'. Since thedual control mechanism is employed in this form, the same numerals areused in connection with the illustration. Drain pipes 53 lead from thebottoms of the chambers R and C' and connect with a manifold pipe 49 inwhich a cutoff valve 50 is connected. Since more or less water entersthe tank through the inlet 49, such water will accumulate in the bottomof the chamber R and escape through the manifold 'pipe 48 and thus doesnot rise high enough to overfiow the Weir 4l. Over a period of time,sediment may collect in the bottom of the chamber C and may be drawn offthrough the connection 48 in the bottom of said chamber. The valve 48'permits withdrawal of water without draining chamber C.

In Fig. 5 a horizontal oil and gas separator is illustrated. Thisseparator includes a tank 5I having an inlet 52 at its forward end whichinlet, discharges into a scrubber box 53 in the upper portion of saidtank. The oil or oil and water are collected in the bottom of the tank.An upright partition 54 causes the liquids to stratify and th topstratum which is oil to overflow a'weir 55 along the upper edge of saidpartition into an accumulating chamber C". vFor instance, a water drainsimilar to the drain 49 and 50 in Fig. 4 may be used to remove waterfrom the vessel 5I. The gas escaping from the box 53 flows between theelongate baiiles 5S and is carried on by way of a discharge pipe 5'?.The gas is prevented from bil-passing the baffles by a partition 5.8,which depends therefrom into the liquid stratum. rihe cil is dischargedfrom the chamber through an outlet pipe 59. The valve 24 is connected inthe pipe 59 andthe valve 25 is connected in the pipe 5l, the dualcontrol being the same as in the other forms.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated the application of the invention to thetype of emulsion treater, or other vessel, disclosed in the co-pendingapplication of Jay P. Walker, Clarence O. Glasgow and Alex Francis, Jr.,Serial No. 220,476,1iled April l1, 1951, owned by applicants assignee.In this modication, the treater vessel or tank t0 has a gas outlet (notshown) leading to a condenser, scrubber, or other gas receivingenclosure ti. Water is withdrawn from the tank 60 through a water outlettube 62 While the clean oil overflows through a skimmer or Weir box 63and a pipe @it to a volume tank or enclosure 65. The tank 55 drainsthrough a heat exchangert to the outlet pipe or oil discharge pipe 23which leads to the oil valve 24, previously described. Certain of theother previously described elements are also employed and are numberedaccordingly, the gas discharge pipe leading from the enclosure Bl to thegas valve 25.

The volume tank 65 is provided with a float 61, or other suitable liquidlevel responsive device, which is operatively connected to the pilotvalve 32. The latter valve is supplied with gas and operates the valve24 and 25 as set out hereinabove.

The operation of the modification `shown in Figs. 6 and 7 issubstantially the same as the operation previously given. The clean oiloverflows into the volume tank B5, raising the float Si, and accumulatesuntil the float has been lifted enough to actuate the pilot valve 32.Operation of the latter causes closing of the gas valve 25 to build upthe gas pressure in the tanks Sii and 55, and opening of the oil valve24 to permit discharge of the oil to the stock tanks. In actualoperation, the float and pilot valve normally stabilize at somei-ntermediate position at which the gas valve is closed sufficiently tohold on the treater, or other vessel, a pressure adecuate to flow theoi-ltherefrom, and the oil valve is opened sufficiently to accommodatesuch ow under the pressure applied. As the now of oil to the treatersurges or decreases, the pilot valve is actuated to make appropriateadjustment in the positions of the gas and oil valves.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, a single tank, an overflow partition in the tankdefining a Weir at its upper edge, an oil accumulating chamber dened bysaid partition and walls of the tank, Water discharge means from thetank in advance of said partition, an oil outlet from the chamber on theother side of said partition, a gas separator connected with the tank',a `gas o'utletfrom `.they sep'- arator, an oil level responsive :elementin .the chamber below the Weir, andiap'hragm oil valve connected to theoll outlet, -va diaphragm gas valve connected'to the gas outlet, va.pilot 'valve having 'inlet connection with the gas outlet, `anactuating connection between y lthe level-responsive'element and thevpilot valve, a glas outlet conductor leading from` the pilot vvalvevand connected with the gas outlet valve vabove its Adiaphragm forclosing/said valve and -connected with the diaphragm of the oil'outle'tvalve below its diaphragm for opening Isaid oil outlet valve.

Y 2. In combination, a single tank, an overflow partition in the tankdefini-ng aweir at its upper edge,l anA oil accumulating chamber definedby said partition and walls of the tank, Water Vdischarge means from thetank `in advance of said partition, `an oil'outlet from r'the ychamberon the other side of said partition, yafgas discharge 'having connectionwith the tank,a float in the charn-y ber, a pilotrvalve having apressure fluid supply, an actuating connection between the iioat `andthe-pilot valve, said float maintaining an oil level in the chamberbelowy the Weir, a diaphragm'- motor gas valve connected to the gasdischarge, a diaphragm-motor oil valve connected to the oil outlet, andpressure fluid conductors leading from the pilot valve to the gas valveabove its diaphragm and to the oil valve below its diaphragm to closethe gas valve and to open the oil Valve.

3. In combination, a single tank adapted 'to contain water, oil and gas,an oil accumulating chamber in the tank having an oil level therein, thetank having means for retaining water and oil levels outside of saidchamber, means for ver.- cluding the water from the oil accumulatingchamber, said chamber having Vanv oil inlet from the oil level yof thetank, van oiloutlet from the chamber, a gas outlet "having connectionwith the tank, water discharge means from the tank exterior of the oilchamber, a float in the chamber, a pilot valve having a pressure fluidsupply, an actuating connection between the float and the pilot valve,said oat maintaining an oil level in the chamber, a diaphragm-motor gasvalve connected to the gas outlet, a diaphragm-motor oil valve connectedto the oil outlet, and pressure fluid conductors leading from the pilotvalve to the gas valve above its diaphragm to close said valve to theoil valve below its diaphragm to open the latter.

4. In combination, a tank, an upright cross partition in the tank havingan overow along its top edge and dividing the tank into an oil and Waterstratifying section on one side of said partition and an oil chamber onthe other side of said partition, water discharge means from thestratifying section, a main gas outlet pipe connected with the tankabove the oil level therein, an oil outlet pipe connected with thechamber, below the oil level therein, a diaphragm vgas valve connectedin the gas, outlet pipe, a

diaphragm oil outlet valve connected in the oil outlet pipe, a pilotvalve connected on its inlet side With the gas pipe-in advance of thegas valve, a gas outlet line leading from the outlet side of the pilotvalve and having branches connected with thefgas valve above itsdiaphragm and connected with the oil valve below its diaphragm, wherebythe gas pressure tends to close the gas valve and tends to open the oilvalve, and a oat in the oil in the tank having an actuator connectedwith the pilot valve.

Vmeans from the tank isolated from the oil accumulating enclosure,liquid level responsive means in the enclosure, a pilot valve having a.

Ypressure fluid supply, an actuating connection between the levelresponsive means and the pilot valve, said responsive means maintainingan oil level in the enclosure, a diaphragm-motor gas valve connected tothe gas outlet, a diaphragm- .motor oil valve connected to the oiloutlet, and pressure fluid conductors leading from the pilot valve tothat side of the diaphragm motor of the `gas valve upon which theapplication of pressure fluid will close the gas valve and to that sideof the diaphragm motor of the oil valve upon which the application ofpressure fluid will open the oil valve.

7. In combination, a tank adapted to contain oil, water and gas, an oilaccumulating enclosure having an oil level therein, the tank havingmeans for retaining Water and oil levels outside of said enclosure,means for excluding the water from the oil accumulating enclosure, saidenclosure having an oil inlet from the oil level of the tank, an oiloutlet from the enclosure, a gas outlet having connection with the tank,water-discharge means from the tank isolated from the oil accumulatingenclosure, a ioat in the enclosure, a pilot valve having a pressureiluid supply, an actuating connection between the float and the pilotvalve, said float maintaining an oil level in the enclosure, adiaphragm-motor gas valve connected to the gas outlet, a diaphragm-motoroil valve connected to the oil outlet, and pressure fluid conductorsleading from the pilot valve to that side of the diaphragm motor of thegas valve upon which the application of pressure fluid will close thegas valve and to that side of the diaphragm motor of the oil valve uponwhich the application of pressure fluid will open the oil valve.

8. In combination, a tank adapted to contain oil, water and gas, an oilaccumulating enclosure carried by the tank and having an oil leveltherein, the tank having means for retaining Water and oil levelsoutside of said enclosure, means for excluding the water from the oilaccumulating enclosure. said enclosure having an oil inlet from the oillevel of the tank, an oil outlet from the enclosure, a gas outlet havingconnection with the tank, water discharge means from the tank isolatedfrom the oil accumulating enclosure, liquid level responsive means inthe enclosure, a pilot valve having a pressure uid supply, an actuatingconnection between the level responsive means and the pilot valve, saidresponsive means maintaining an oil level in the enclosure, adiaphragmmotor gas valve connected to the gas outlet, a diaphragm-motoroil valve connected to the oil outlet, and pressure fluid conductorsleading from the pilot valve to that side of the diaphragm motor of thegas valve upon which the application of pressure fluid will close thegas valve and to that side of the diaphragm motor of the oil valve uponwhich the application of pressure iluid will open the oil valve.

9. In combination, a tank adapted to contain oil, water and gas, an oilaccumulating enclosure external of the 'tank and having an oil leveltherein, the tank having means for retaining water and oil levelsoutside of said enclosure, means for excluding the water from the oilaccumulating enclosure, said enclosure having an oil inlet from the oillevel of the tank, an oil outlet from the enclosure, a gas outlet havingconnection with the tank, water discharge means from the tank isolatedfrom the oil accumulating enclosure, liquid level responsive means inthe enclosure, a pilot valve having a pressure lluid supply, anactuating connection between the level responsive means and the pilotvalve, said responsive means maintaining an oil level in the enclosure,a diaphragni-motor gas valve connected to the gas outlet, adiaphragm-motor oil valve connected to the oil outlet, and pressureiluid conductors leading from the pilot valve to that side of thediaphragm motor of the gas valve upon which the application of pressureiluid will close the gas valve and to that side of the diaphragm motorof the oil valve upon which the application of pressure fluid will openthe oil valve.

JAY P. WALKER. CLARENCE O. GLASGOW.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,048,717 Maywald Dec. 31, 1912 1,846,376 Walker Feb. 23, 19322,064,962 Waters Dec. 22, 1936 2,211,282 McKeever Aug. 13 1940 2,457,959walker Jan. 4,J 1949 2,528,032 Candler et al. Oct. 31, 1950

